The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

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Following the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) decision to temporarily suspend all programs worldwide for 90 days, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has convened an emergency meeting. This meeting addresses the concerns of students who are on USAID-funded scholarships. Now, let’s explain the entire situation regarding the suspension and how it is being handled.

USAID Scholarships Suspension in Egypt

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According to some USAID students, they were suddenly informed last Saturday evening, while they were attending a training activity, that the agency’s administration in Washington had issued a decision to suspend grants to countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, without any details, reasons, or clarification of the students’ positions. This unexpected announcement left students uncertain about their academic futures and financial stability.

Egyptian Government Calls Urgent Meeting to Tackle Scholarship Crisis

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In response to this critical situation, Dr Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, held an emergency meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities to address the concerns of students impacted by the USAID scholarship suspension. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Dr Mustafa Refaat, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Universities, Dr Ihab Abdel Rahman, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the American University in Cairo, and representatives from various universities.

The meeting, chaired by Minister Dr. Ayman Ashour, discussed the impact of the suspension on 1,077 students across public, private, and civil universities in Egypt, including 200 at the American University in Cairo (AUC).

Universities Vow Support to Provide Continued Education

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The Ministry emphasised its commitment to supporting these students and ensuring their academic progress remains uninterrupted. Therefore, the following measures have been announced:

• Continued Funding: Universities will honour all funding allocations and tuition fees previously provided by USAID for the second semester.

• Student Support: The Ministry and universities will collaborate to handle any challenges scholarship students face during this period.

• AUC Commitment: The American University in Cairo has pledged to cover the expenses of its 200 scholarship students during the second semester, with continued coordination with the Ministry.

Similarly, universities, such as Ain Shams University, have individually pledged to support their scholarship students by covering tuition fees while emphasising the importance of maintaining academic standards and discipline.

Ministry Prioritises Students’ Futures

The Ministry has promised that these unexpected circumstances will not affect the academic aspirations of these students. It’s reassuring to see the Ministry addressing the temporary suspension of studies, showing the Egyptian government’s commitment to safeguarding students’ educational dreams.